Ciceru frequently
recommends
him to
He appears also to have possessed some talent for the governors of the provinces ; as, for instance, to
the composition of poetry, and meditated writing a Q.
He appears also to have possessed some talent for the governors of the provinces ; as, for instance, to
the composition of poetry, and meditated writing a Q.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
Trebonius rather than to himseli, a dis.
of Pompeius, to surrender to him his paternal pro- tinction, however, to which Trebonius had much
perty. (Val. Max. iv. 2. & 7. )
greater claims, as he had in his tribuneship in
In B. c. 51, Cicero went to Cilicia as proconsul, B. C. 55 proposed the law for prolonging the pro-
much against his will, and before leaving Italy he consular government of Caesir. But his chief
requested Caelius, who accompanied him on his dissatisfaction with the existing state of things
journey as far as Cumae, to send him from time to arose from his enormous debts. It seems that he
time a detailed account of all the news of the had looked forward to a proscription for the pay-
city. Caelius readily complied with his request, ment of his creditors ; but as Caesar's generous
and his correspondence with his friend is still pre- conduct towards his opponents deprived him of
served in the collection of Cicero's letters. In the this resource, he saw no remedy for his ruined for.
same year Caelius became a candidate for the tunes but a general coinmotion. Accordingly, when
curule aedileship, which he gained along with | Trebonius was, in the exercise of his judicial
Octavius. As he was anxious to exhibit the games duties, carrying into execution the law which had
with becoming splendour, he applied to Cicero for been lately passed by Caesar for the settlement of
money and for panthers, as his command of an debts, Caelius set up his tribunal by the side of
Asiatic province would enable him to obtain a his colleague and promised his assistance to all who
large supply of both without much difficulty. might appeal to him against the decision of the
Cicero, with all his faults, did not plunder the pro- latter. But as no one availed himself of his prof-
vincials. He therefore refused the money at once ; fered aid, he brought forward a law according to
and does not seem to have put himself to much which debts were to be paid without interest in
trouble to procure the panthers, although Caelius six instalments, probably at the interval of six
reminds him of them in almost every letter. months from one another. When this measure was
During his aedileship in the following year (B. C. opposed by Servilius Isauricus, Caesar's colleague
50), Caelius still carried on his correspondence in the consulship, and by the other magistrates,
with Cicero ; and his letters contain some interest- he dropt it and brought forward two others in its
ing accounts of the proceedings of the different place, which were in fact equivalent to a general
parties at Rome immediately before the breaking confiscatio of property. By one of these new
out of the civil war. In the same year he became laws the proprietors of houses had to give up a
involved in a personal quarrel with the censor Ap. year's rent to their tenants, and by another cre-
Claudius Pulcher, and with L. Domitius Aheno ditors were to forgive debtors all their debts. After
barbus, who had been the colleague of Claudius such sweeping measures as these, the decisions of
in the consulship ; but we must refer the reader for Trebonius, however lenient, would seem harsh to
particulars to his correspondence with Cicero (ad wards debtors. A mob attacked him as he was ad-
Fam. viii, 12, 14). Having thus become a per- ministering justice ; several persons were wounded,
sonal enemy of two of the most distinguished and Trebonius himself driven from his tribunal.
leaders of the aristocracy, his connection with Thereupon the senate resolved to deprive Caelius
this party, of which he had hitherto been a warm of his office, and Servilius carried the decree into
supporter, was naturally weakened. He felt no execution by breaking bimself the curule seat of
confidence in Pompey and the senate in the im- the praetor. Caelius saw that he could effect
pending civil war; he saw that Caesar was the nothing more at Rome, and accordingly left the
stronger ; and arowing the principle that the more city, giving out that he intended to repair to
powerful party is to be joined when the struggle Caesar. But his real intention was to join Milo
in a state comes to arms, he resolved to espouse in Campania, whom he had secretly sent for from
the side of Caesar.
Massilia, and along with him to raise an insurrec-
In the discussions in the senate at the beginning tion in favour of Pompey. Milo, however, was
of January, B. C. 49, Caelius supported the opinion killed in an attack upon an obscure fort near
of M. Calidius that Pompey ought to betake Thurii before Caelius could join him (Milo);
himself to his Spanish provinces in order to remove and Caelius himself was put to death shortly after-
every pretext for war. By this declaration he wards at Thurii by some Spanish and Gallic horse-
openly broke with the aristocratical party, and in men whom he was endeavouring to bribe to sur-
a few days afterwards he fled from Rome with render the place. (Caes. B. C. iii. 20—22 ; Dion
M. Antonius, Q. Cassius, and C. Curio to Caesar's Cass. xlii. 22–25; Appian, B. C. ii. 22; Liv.
camp
Ravenna ves. B. C. i. 2 ; Dion Cass. Epit. 111; Vell. Pat. ii. 68 ; Oros, vi. 15; Quin-
xli. 2, 3). Caesar sent him into Liguria to sup- til. vi. 3. & 25. )
press an insurrection at Intemelium (ad Fam. viii.
15); and in April he accompanied Caesar in his The passage in Caesar (B. C. iii. 20), from
campaign in Spain (ad Fam. viii. 16. $ 4, 17. $ 1). which the statement in the text is taken, is cor-
It is supposed by some modern writers that he rupt:- :-" legem promulgavit, ut sexies seni dies
also served under Curio in Africa in the course of sine usuris creditae pecuniae solvantur. " Niebuhr
the same year, as we read of a M. Rufus who was conjectures sexies semestri die (Kleine Schriften,
the quaestor of Curio in Africa (Caes. B. C. ii. | vol. ii. pp. 253, 254. )
;
## p. 673 (#689) ############################################
RUFUS.
673
RUFUS.
niezami
Caelius had paid considerable attention to liter- | It bas on the obverse the head of the Dioscuri
nture, and with no small success. He was an with RVFVS I Vir (that is, of the mint), and
elegant writer and an eloquent speaker ; he pos- on the reverse a female figure with man. CORDIVS.
sessed an excitable temperament, and a lively (Eckhel, vol. v. p. 178. )
imagination; the speeches in which he accused
others were considered his master-pieces (Cic.
Brut. 79 ; orator iracundissimus, Senec. de Ira,
iii. 8). He was a friend of Catullus, who has
addressed two of his poems to him (Carm. lviii. c. ),
and he also lived, as has appeared from the above
account, on the most intimate terms with Cicero.
It was the latter circumstance apparently that led
Niebuhr to extenuate the faults of Caelius, and to
COIN OF M'. CORDIUS RUFUS.
ascribe to him virtues that he never possesscd ;
but Cicero's intimacy with the young profligate RUFUS, CORE'LLIUS, a friend of the
speaks rather to the prejudice of his own charac. younger Pliny, whom he looked up to as a father,
ter than in favour of his friend's moriuls. All the and of whom he always speaks with the highest
ancient writers, with the exception of Cicero, veneration and respect. Corellius had been a
who have occasion to mention Caelius, agree martyr to hereditary gout for 33 years; and at
in an unfavourable estimate of his character ; length, in order to escape from the incessant pain
and independent of their testimony, his letters to which he suffered, he put an end to his life by vo-
Cicero, and the speech of the latter on his behalf, luntary starvation at the age of 67, at the com-
in which he attempts to clear his friend of the mencement of Trajan's reign. His virtues and his
charges brought against him, are sufficient of them- death form the subject of one of the letters of
selves to convince any attentive reader of the Pliny (Ep. i. 12), who also mentions bim on many
worthlessness of his moral character. (Niebuhr, other occasions. (Ep. iv. 17. § 4, v. 1. & 5, vii. 11.
Kleine Schriften, vol. ii. p. 252 ; Meyer, Oratorum $ 3, ix. 13. $ 6. )
Romanorum Fragmenta, p. 458, &c. , 2d ed. ; Dru- RUFUS, CU'RTIUS, said to have been the
mann, Geschichte Roms, vol. ii. p. 411, &c. ; and son of a gladiator by some, followed in the train of
especially Suringar, M. Caelii Rufi et M. Tullii one of the quaestors to Africa for the purpose of
Ciceronis Epistolae mutuae, Lugd. Batav. 1846, in gain, and, while at Adrumetum, is reported to have
which all the authorities for the life of Caelius, seen a female of superhuman size, who prophesied
both ancient and modern, are printed at length. ) to him that he would one day visit Africa as pro-
RUFUS, CAESE'TIUS, proscribed by An- consul. Urged on by this vision, he repaired to
tony in B. C. 43, and killed. He owed his fate to Rome and obtained the quaestorship and praetor-
a beautiful insula or detached mansion which he ship in the reign of Tiberius, at a later period the
had in the city, and which had taken the fancy of consular imperium and triumphal ornaments, and
Fulvia, the wife of Antony. When his head was at length the government of Africa, as had been
brought to Antony, he sent it to his wife, saying predicted (Tac. Ann. xi. 20, 21 ; Plin. Ep. vii. 27).
that it did not belong to him. (Appian, B. C. iv. Some modern writers suppose that this Curtius
29 ; Val. Max. ix. 5. § 4. )
Rufus was the father of Q. Curtius Rufus, the
RUFUS, C. CALVI'SIUS, an intimate friend historian.
of the younger Pliny (Plin. Ep. i. 12. § 12, iv. 4), RUFUS, Q. CURTIUS, the historian. [Cur-
who has addressed several of his letters to him. TIUS. )
(Ep. ii. 20, iii. 1, 19, v. 7, viii. 2, ix. 6. )
RUFUS DOME'STICUS. (RUFINUS, lite-
RUFUS, CAMOʻNIUS, of Bononia, a friend rary, No. 4. ]
of Martial, died at an early age in Cappadocia. RUFUS, EGNATIUS. 1. L. EGNATIUS Ru.
(Mart. vi. 85. )
pus, a friend of Cicero, was a Roman eques, who
RUFUS CANI'NIUS, a native of Comum, appears to have carried on an extensive business in
and a friend and neighbour of the younger Pliny, the provinces as a money-lender, and a farmer of
was well versed in literature, and especially poetry. the taxes.
Ciceru frequently recommends him to
He appears also to have possessed some talent for the governors of the provinces ; as, for instance, to
the composition of poetry, and meditated writing a Q. Philippus (ad Fam. xiii. 73, 74), to Quintius
poem on the Dacian war (Plin. Ep. viii. 4). But Gallius (ai Fam. xii. 43, 44), to Appuleius (ad
as most of his time was taken up in the personal Fam. xiii. 45), and to Silins (ad rum. xiii. 47).
management of his estates, Pliny begs him to leave Both Cicero and his brother Quintus had pecuniary
them to his bailiffs, and to devote his own time to dealings with him (ad Att. vii. 18. $ 4, x. 15. § 4,
the prosecution of his studies (Plin. Ep. i. 3). xi. 3. § 3, xii. 18. § 3).
There are also several other letters of Pliny ad- 2. M. Egnatius Rufus, probably son of the
dressed to him, which all more or less urge him to preceding, was aedile in B. C. 20, and gained so
prosecute his literary pursuits, and undertake the much popularity in this office, principally through
composition of some poetical work. (Ep. ii. 8, iii. extinguishing the fires by means of his own ser-
7, vi. 21, vii. 18, viii. 4, ix. 33. )
vants, that he obtained the praetorship for the fol-
RUFUS, CA'NIUS, a Roman poet, to whom lowing year in opposition to the laws, which
Martial has addressed one of his epigrams. (Ep. enacted that a certain time should intervene be-
iii. 20. )
tween the offices of aedile and praetor. En-
RUFUS, CLAU'DIUS CRASSUS. (Clau-couraged by this success, he endeavoured to secure
DIUS, No. 12. ]
the consulship for the following year, B. c. 18 ; but
RUFUS, CLU'VIUS. (CLUVIUS, No. 7. ) as the consul C. Sentius Saturninus refused to
RUFUS, M. COʻRDIUS, a name known to receive his name as one of the candidates, he en-
us only from coing, of which a specimen is annexed. I tered into a plot with persons who were, like hinge
VOL. III,
}
## p. 674 (#690) ############################################
674
RUFUS.
RUFUS.
|
Belf, bankrupts in character and fortune, to murder RUFUS, MENIUS. (Rufus, physicians, No.
Augustus. Being detected in these treasonable 1, p. 668. )
designs, he was thrown into prison and executed. RUFUS, L. MESCI'NIUS, Cicero's quaestor
(Vell. Pat. ii. 91. -93; Dion Cass. liii. 24 ; Suet. in Cilicia, B. c. 51, of whose official conduci Cicero
Aug. 19. )
complains to Atticus in the strongest terms (ud
RUFUS EPHE'SIUS. (Rufus, physicians, Att. vi. 3, 4). On his departure from the province
No. 2, p. 669. ]
Cicero lift Tiro at Laodiceia to settle his accounts
RUFUS, FAE'NIUS or FE'NIUS, was ap- with him ; and in consequence of the difficulties
pointed by Nero praefectus annonae in A. D. 55, and misunderstandings which arose out of this
and gained the favour of the people by his dis settlement, Cicero wrote to him a long letter which
charging the duties of this office without any view is extant (ad Fam. v. 20). But though Cicero had
to private emolument. He was in consequence found so much fault with Rufus in his letter to
appointed praefect of the praetorian cohorts along Atticus, he bestows the highest praises upon him
with Sofonius Tigellinus, in A. D. 62, as Nero in a letter in which he urges him to join ihe side
wished, by the elevation of Rufus, to counter- of Pompey on the breaking out of the civil war
balance the unpopularity of the latter appointment. (ad Pam. v. 19). At a later time, B. C. 46, Cicero
But Rufus never obtained much influence with writes Rufus a letter of consolation, as he seems to
the emperor, and all the real power was in the have been discontented with his position (ad Fum.
hands of his colleague Tigellinus, whose depraved v. 21). In the same year Cicero reconimended
mind was more akin to Nero's own. In addition him to Serv. Sulpicius, the governor of Achaia, in
to this, his friendship with Agrippina had rendered which province Rufus had some business which
him an object of suspicion to Nero ; and he was required his presence (ad Fam. xiii. 26, 28). After
therefore the more easily induced to take part in the death of Caesar he joined the republican party,
the conspiracy of Piso, A. D. 65. On the detection and served under Cassius Longinus, by whom he
of the conspiracy he was compelled to put an end was sent against Tarsus. (Dion Cass. xlvii
. 31. )
to his own life, which he did not do with the same The name of L. Mescinius Rufus frequently
firmness as most of his accomplices. His friends occurs on coins as triumvir of the mint under
shared in his fall, and one was banished simply on Augustus ; and it appears from these coins that he
account of his intimacy with him. (Tac. Ann. must have held this office in the years B. c. 17 and
xiii. 22, xiv. 51, 57, xv. 50, 53, 61, 66, 68, xvi. 16. The following is an interesting specimen of
12; Dion Cass. Ixii. 24. )
one of these coins. On the obverse is a cippus
RUFUS FESTUS AVIENUS. [Avienus. ] with IMP. CAES. AVGV. COMM. CoNs. , that is, Im-
RUFUS, GEMI'NIUS, was accused of the perator Caesar Augustus communi consensu, and
crime of majestas towards the end of A. D. 32, in round the cippus L. MESCINIVS RVFVS III VIR:
consequence of his intimacy with Sejanus. He put on the reverse we have inclosed in a chaplet of
to his own life, and his wife Publia Prisca oak, I. 0. M. &. P. Q. R V. S. PR. S. IMP. CAES.
followed his example. (Dion Cass. lviii. 4 ; Tac. AVOD PER EV. R. P. IN AMP. ATQ. TRAN. S. E. ,
Ann. vi. 14. )
that is, lovi Optimo Maximo S. P. Q. R. cotum
RUFUS, HEʻLVIUS, a common soldier, susceptum pro salute Imperatoris Caesaris, quod per
saved the life of a Roman citizen in the war with eum res publica in ampliore atque tranquilliore statu
Tacfarinas in Africa in A. D. 20. (Tac. Ann. iii. est. This interpretation is confirmed by the fact
21. )
that, after the defeat of Varus some years after-
RUFUS, JULIA’NUS, consul a. d. 178 with wards, we read that games were vowed by Augus-
Gavius Orfitus. (Lamprid. Commod. 12. ) tus to Jupiter Optinius Maximus, si respublica in
RUFUS, JU’LIUS I. Consul A. D. 67 with meliorem statum rertisset (Suet. Aug. 23). (Eckhel,
L. Fonteius Capito. He died of a carbuncle, as is vol. v. p. 252, vol. vi. pp.
of Pompeius, to surrender to him his paternal pro- tinction, however, to which Trebonius had much
perty. (Val. Max. iv. 2. & 7. )
greater claims, as he had in his tribuneship in
In B. c. 51, Cicero went to Cilicia as proconsul, B. C. 55 proposed the law for prolonging the pro-
much against his will, and before leaving Italy he consular government of Caesir. But his chief
requested Caelius, who accompanied him on his dissatisfaction with the existing state of things
journey as far as Cumae, to send him from time to arose from his enormous debts. It seems that he
time a detailed account of all the news of the had looked forward to a proscription for the pay-
city. Caelius readily complied with his request, ment of his creditors ; but as Caesar's generous
and his correspondence with his friend is still pre- conduct towards his opponents deprived him of
served in the collection of Cicero's letters. In the this resource, he saw no remedy for his ruined for.
same year Caelius became a candidate for the tunes but a general coinmotion. Accordingly, when
curule aedileship, which he gained along with | Trebonius was, in the exercise of his judicial
Octavius. As he was anxious to exhibit the games duties, carrying into execution the law which had
with becoming splendour, he applied to Cicero for been lately passed by Caesar for the settlement of
money and for panthers, as his command of an debts, Caelius set up his tribunal by the side of
Asiatic province would enable him to obtain a his colleague and promised his assistance to all who
large supply of both without much difficulty. might appeal to him against the decision of the
Cicero, with all his faults, did not plunder the pro- latter. But as no one availed himself of his prof-
vincials. He therefore refused the money at once ; fered aid, he brought forward a law according to
and does not seem to have put himself to much which debts were to be paid without interest in
trouble to procure the panthers, although Caelius six instalments, probably at the interval of six
reminds him of them in almost every letter. months from one another. When this measure was
During his aedileship in the following year (B. C. opposed by Servilius Isauricus, Caesar's colleague
50), Caelius still carried on his correspondence in the consulship, and by the other magistrates,
with Cicero ; and his letters contain some interest- he dropt it and brought forward two others in its
ing accounts of the proceedings of the different place, which were in fact equivalent to a general
parties at Rome immediately before the breaking confiscatio of property. By one of these new
out of the civil war. In the same year he became laws the proprietors of houses had to give up a
involved in a personal quarrel with the censor Ap. year's rent to their tenants, and by another cre-
Claudius Pulcher, and with L. Domitius Aheno ditors were to forgive debtors all their debts. After
barbus, who had been the colleague of Claudius such sweeping measures as these, the decisions of
in the consulship ; but we must refer the reader for Trebonius, however lenient, would seem harsh to
particulars to his correspondence with Cicero (ad wards debtors. A mob attacked him as he was ad-
Fam. viii, 12, 14). Having thus become a per- ministering justice ; several persons were wounded,
sonal enemy of two of the most distinguished and Trebonius himself driven from his tribunal.
leaders of the aristocracy, his connection with Thereupon the senate resolved to deprive Caelius
this party, of which he had hitherto been a warm of his office, and Servilius carried the decree into
supporter, was naturally weakened. He felt no execution by breaking bimself the curule seat of
confidence in Pompey and the senate in the im- the praetor. Caelius saw that he could effect
pending civil war; he saw that Caesar was the nothing more at Rome, and accordingly left the
stronger ; and arowing the principle that the more city, giving out that he intended to repair to
powerful party is to be joined when the struggle Caesar. But his real intention was to join Milo
in a state comes to arms, he resolved to espouse in Campania, whom he had secretly sent for from
the side of Caesar.
Massilia, and along with him to raise an insurrec-
In the discussions in the senate at the beginning tion in favour of Pompey. Milo, however, was
of January, B. C. 49, Caelius supported the opinion killed in an attack upon an obscure fort near
of M. Calidius that Pompey ought to betake Thurii before Caelius could join him (Milo);
himself to his Spanish provinces in order to remove and Caelius himself was put to death shortly after-
every pretext for war. By this declaration he wards at Thurii by some Spanish and Gallic horse-
openly broke with the aristocratical party, and in men whom he was endeavouring to bribe to sur-
a few days afterwards he fled from Rome with render the place. (Caes. B. C. iii. 20—22 ; Dion
M. Antonius, Q. Cassius, and C. Curio to Caesar's Cass. xlii. 22–25; Appian, B. C. ii. 22; Liv.
camp
Ravenna ves. B. C. i. 2 ; Dion Cass. Epit. 111; Vell. Pat. ii. 68 ; Oros, vi. 15; Quin-
xli. 2, 3). Caesar sent him into Liguria to sup- til. vi. 3. & 25. )
press an insurrection at Intemelium (ad Fam. viii.
15); and in April he accompanied Caesar in his The passage in Caesar (B. C. iii. 20), from
campaign in Spain (ad Fam. viii. 16. $ 4, 17. $ 1). which the statement in the text is taken, is cor-
It is supposed by some modern writers that he rupt:- :-" legem promulgavit, ut sexies seni dies
also served under Curio in Africa in the course of sine usuris creditae pecuniae solvantur. " Niebuhr
the same year, as we read of a M. Rufus who was conjectures sexies semestri die (Kleine Schriften,
the quaestor of Curio in Africa (Caes. B. C. ii. | vol. ii. pp. 253, 254. )
;
## p. 673 (#689) ############################################
RUFUS.
673
RUFUS.
niezami
Caelius had paid considerable attention to liter- | It bas on the obverse the head of the Dioscuri
nture, and with no small success. He was an with RVFVS I Vir (that is, of the mint), and
elegant writer and an eloquent speaker ; he pos- on the reverse a female figure with man. CORDIVS.
sessed an excitable temperament, and a lively (Eckhel, vol. v. p. 178. )
imagination; the speeches in which he accused
others were considered his master-pieces (Cic.
Brut. 79 ; orator iracundissimus, Senec. de Ira,
iii. 8). He was a friend of Catullus, who has
addressed two of his poems to him (Carm. lviii. c. ),
and he also lived, as has appeared from the above
account, on the most intimate terms with Cicero.
It was the latter circumstance apparently that led
Niebuhr to extenuate the faults of Caelius, and to
COIN OF M'. CORDIUS RUFUS.
ascribe to him virtues that he never possesscd ;
but Cicero's intimacy with the young profligate RUFUS, CORE'LLIUS, a friend of the
speaks rather to the prejudice of his own charac. younger Pliny, whom he looked up to as a father,
ter than in favour of his friend's moriuls. All the and of whom he always speaks with the highest
ancient writers, with the exception of Cicero, veneration and respect. Corellius had been a
who have occasion to mention Caelius, agree martyr to hereditary gout for 33 years; and at
in an unfavourable estimate of his character ; length, in order to escape from the incessant pain
and independent of their testimony, his letters to which he suffered, he put an end to his life by vo-
Cicero, and the speech of the latter on his behalf, luntary starvation at the age of 67, at the com-
in which he attempts to clear his friend of the mencement of Trajan's reign. His virtues and his
charges brought against him, are sufficient of them- death form the subject of one of the letters of
selves to convince any attentive reader of the Pliny (Ep. i. 12), who also mentions bim on many
worthlessness of his moral character. (Niebuhr, other occasions. (Ep. iv. 17. § 4, v. 1. & 5, vii. 11.
Kleine Schriften, vol. ii. p. 252 ; Meyer, Oratorum $ 3, ix. 13. $ 6. )
Romanorum Fragmenta, p. 458, &c. , 2d ed. ; Dru- RUFUS, CU'RTIUS, said to have been the
mann, Geschichte Roms, vol. ii. p. 411, &c. ; and son of a gladiator by some, followed in the train of
especially Suringar, M. Caelii Rufi et M. Tullii one of the quaestors to Africa for the purpose of
Ciceronis Epistolae mutuae, Lugd. Batav. 1846, in gain, and, while at Adrumetum, is reported to have
which all the authorities for the life of Caelius, seen a female of superhuman size, who prophesied
both ancient and modern, are printed at length. ) to him that he would one day visit Africa as pro-
RUFUS, CAESE'TIUS, proscribed by An- consul. Urged on by this vision, he repaired to
tony in B. C. 43, and killed. He owed his fate to Rome and obtained the quaestorship and praetor-
a beautiful insula or detached mansion which he ship in the reign of Tiberius, at a later period the
had in the city, and which had taken the fancy of consular imperium and triumphal ornaments, and
Fulvia, the wife of Antony. When his head was at length the government of Africa, as had been
brought to Antony, he sent it to his wife, saying predicted (Tac. Ann. xi. 20, 21 ; Plin. Ep. vii. 27).
that it did not belong to him. (Appian, B. C. iv. Some modern writers suppose that this Curtius
29 ; Val. Max. ix. 5. § 4. )
Rufus was the father of Q. Curtius Rufus, the
RUFUS, C. CALVI'SIUS, an intimate friend historian.
of the younger Pliny (Plin. Ep. i. 12. § 12, iv. 4), RUFUS, Q. CURTIUS, the historian. [Cur-
who has addressed several of his letters to him. TIUS. )
(Ep. ii. 20, iii. 1, 19, v. 7, viii. 2, ix. 6. )
RUFUS DOME'STICUS. (RUFINUS, lite-
RUFUS, CAMOʻNIUS, of Bononia, a friend rary, No. 4. ]
of Martial, died at an early age in Cappadocia. RUFUS, EGNATIUS. 1. L. EGNATIUS Ru.
(Mart. vi. 85. )
pus, a friend of Cicero, was a Roman eques, who
RUFUS CANI'NIUS, a native of Comum, appears to have carried on an extensive business in
and a friend and neighbour of the younger Pliny, the provinces as a money-lender, and a farmer of
was well versed in literature, and especially poetry. the taxes.
Ciceru frequently recommends him to
He appears also to have possessed some talent for the governors of the provinces ; as, for instance, to
the composition of poetry, and meditated writing a Q. Philippus (ad Fam. xiii. 73, 74), to Quintius
poem on the Dacian war (Plin. Ep. viii. 4). But Gallius (ai Fam. xii. 43, 44), to Appuleius (ad
as most of his time was taken up in the personal Fam. xiii. 45), and to Silins (ad rum. xiii. 47).
management of his estates, Pliny begs him to leave Both Cicero and his brother Quintus had pecuniary
them to his bailiffs, and to devote his own time to dealings with him (ad Att. vii. 18. $ 4, x. 15. § 4,
the prosecution of his studies (Plin. Ep. i. 3). xi. 3. § 3, xii. 18. § 3).
There are also several other letters of Pliny ad- 2. M. Egnatius Rufus, probably son of the
dressed to him, which all more or less urge him to preceding, was aedile in B. C. 20, and gained so
prosecute his literary pursuits, and undertake the much popularity in this office, principally through
composition of some poetical work. (Ep. ii. 8, iii. extinguishing the fires by means of his own ser-
7, vi. 21, vii. 18, viii. 4, ix. 33. )
vants, that he obtained the praetorship for the fol-
RUFUS, CA'NIUS, a Roman poet, to whom lowing year in opposition to the laws, which
Martial has addressed one of his epigrams. (Ep. enacted that a certain time should intervene be-
iii. 20. )
tween the offices of aedile and praetor. En-
RUFUS, CLAU'DIUS CRASSUS. (Clau-couraged by this success, he endeavoured to secure
DIUS, No. 12. ]
the consulship for the following year, B. c. 18 ; but
RUFUS, CLU'VIUS. (CLUVIUS, No. 7. ) as the consul C. Sentius Saturninus refused to
RUFUS, M. COʻRDIUS, a name known to receive his name as one of the candidates, he en-
us only from coing, of which a specimen is annexed. I tered into a plot with persons who were, like hinge
VOL. III,
}
## p. 674 (#690) ############################################
674
RUFUS.
RUFUS.
|
Belf, bankrupts in character and fortune, to murder RUFUS, MENIUS. (Rufus, physicians, No.
Augustus. Being detected in these treasonable 1, p. 668. )
designs, he was thrown into prison and executed. RUFUS, L. MESCI'NIUS, Cicero's quaestor
(Vell. Pat. ii. 91. -93; Dion Cass. liii. 24 ; Suet. in Cilicia, B. c. 51, of whose official conduci Cicero
Aug. 19. )
complains to Atticus in the strongest terms (ud
RUFUS EPHE'SIUS. (Rufus, physicians, Att. vi. 3, 4). On his departure from the province
No. 2, p. 669. ]
Cicero lift Tiro at Laodiceia to settle his accounts
RUFUS, FAE'NIUS or FE'NIUS, was ap- with him ; and in consequence of the difficulties
pointed by Nero praefectus annonae in A. D. 55, and misunderstandings which arose out of this
and gained the favour of the people by his dis settlement, Cicero wrote to him a long letter which
charging the duties of this office without any view is extant (ad Fam. v. 20). But though Cicero had
to private emolument. He was in consequence found so much fault with Rufus in his letter to
appointed praefect of the praetorian cohorts along Atticus, he bestows the highest praises upon him
with Sofonius Tigellinus, in A. D. 62, as Nero in a letter in which he urges him to join ihe side
wished, by the elevation of Rufus, to counter- of Pompey on the breaking out of the civil war
balance the unpopularity of the latter appointment. (ad Pam. v. 19). At a later time, B. C. 46, Cicero
But Rufus never obtained much influence with writes Rufus a letter of consolation, as he seems to
the emperor, and all the real power was in the have been discontented with his position (ad Fum.
hands of his colleague Tigellinus, whose depraved v. 21). In the same year Cicero reconimended
mind was more akin to Nero's own. In addition him to Serv. Sulpicius, the governor of Achaia, in
to this, his friendship with Agrippina had rendered which province Rufus had some business which
him an object of suspicion to Nero ; and he was required his presence (ad Fam. xiii. 26, 28). After
therefore the more easily induced to take part in the death of Caesar he joined the republican party,
the conspiracy of Piso, A. D. 65. On the detection and served under Cassius Longinus, by whom he
of the conspiracy he was compelled to put an end was sent against Tarsus. (Dion Cass. xlvii
. 31. )
to his own life, which he did not do with the same The name of L. Mescinius Rufus frequently
firmness as most of his accomplices. His friends occurs on coins as triumvir of the mint under
shared in his fall, and one was banished simply on Augustus ; and it appears from these coins that he
account of his intimacy with him. (Tac. Ann. must have held this office in the years B. c. 17 and
xiii. 22, xiv. 51, 57, xv. 50, 53, 61, 66, 68, xvi. 16. The following is an interesting specimen of
12; Dion Cass. Ixii. 24. )
one of these coins. On the obverse is a cippus
RUFUS FESTUS AVIENUS. [Avienus. ] with IMP. CAES. AVGV. COMM. CoNs. , that is, Im-
RUFUS, GEMI'NIUS, was accused of the perator Caesar Augustus communi consensu, and
crime of majestas towards the end of A. D. 32, in round the cippus L. MESCINIVS RVFVS III VIR:
consequence of his intimacy with Sejanus. He put on the reverse we have inclosed in a chaplet of
to his own life, and his wife Publia Prisca oak, I. 0. M. &. P. Q. R V. S. PR. S. IMP. CAES.
followed his example. (Dion Cass. lviii. 4 ; Tac. AVOD PER EV. R. P. IN AMP. ATQ. TRAN. S. E. ,
Ann. vi. 14. )
that is, lovi Optimo Maximo S. P. Q. R. cotum
RUFUS, HEʻLVIUS, a common soldier, susceptum pro salute Imperatoris Caesaris, quod per
saved the life of a Roman citizen in the war with eum res publica in ampliore atque tranquilliore statu
Tacfarinas in Africa in A. D. 20. (Tac. Ann. iii. est. This interpretation is confirmed by the fact
21. )
that, after the defeat of Varus some years after-
RUFUS, JULIA’NUS, consul a. d. 178 with wards, we read that games were vowed by Augus-
Gavius Orfitus. (Lamprid. Commod. 12. ) tus to Jupiter Optinius Maximus, si respublica in
RUFUS, JU’LIUS I. Consul A. D. 67 with meliorem statum rertisset (Suet. Aug. 23). (Eckhel,
L. Fonteius Capito. He died of a carbuncle, as is vol. v. p. 252, vol. vi. pp.
